No fire fee. No fire tax. Not higher. No cuts in service or employment. We need a full time paid firefighters with the firehouse. I want nine firefighters on duty 24 hours a days and 7 days a weeks. What we want? What Britton Cauthen want?

Fireman Go Green. The firefighters learn recycling and how to green up the firehouse.

Wasted! was really pleased to spend some time with the full timers and volunteers at the Lamar County Fire and Rescue. And, as it turns out, we were in the right place to do the planet some good. this crew had their act together, and made great green changes in a big way!

You see, a fire department is a fusion of profession and stewardship. The firemen are unionized, and therefore very professional and dedicated, but there is also the life saving, the danger, and emergency response aspects of their jobs. there is the added pressure of lives depending on the work these people do every day.

So it comes as no surprise that the Lamar County Fire Department was a tough, prepared, dedicated, and attentive group of Wasted contributors. When we took a tour of their firehouse and gave them some suggestions, they not only took our advice to heart, but they made going green a matter of professional pride. And the result was fantastic. a huge drop in their carbon footprint, and enormous earnings that they gave to charity because they are publicly funded to begin with.

We also learned about how complex going green can be when you are part of a municipal system: the crew was really interested in looking into biodiesel, but—because they are part of a large regional purchasing system they could not just lift themselves out of the mix to green their vehicles. And, while valiant efforts were made, getting a whole section of Georgia to switch to biodiesel just wasn't possible, because of a mixture of red tape and efficiency concerns over gelling.

But everywhere else, the fire crew's discipline paid off for the planet.

1. We scolded their heavy c-fold-towel use, and offered them xcelerator air dryers and presto! No more towels—almost a complete stop in their paper towel wastage.

2. We gave them grief for their plastic water bottle use, and the waste caused by the soda bottles they buy all the time. We gave them reusable drink bottles and Presto. Almost a complete stop on bottle wastage.

3. We pointed out how group living offers the opportunity for communal eating, which lowers the footprint of everyone in the group, and Presto! Hungry firemen stuffing their faces together like the second family they are to each other. The results in less wasted food, less packaging because of bigger portions, and less fast food purchased and packaged.

Chief Andrews would lay down the law on a green change, and that was that. the team took to the new rule and stuck to it. In a job where seconds and structure save lives, adhering to the system even a brand new system—is just another part of the job. And it is a job the team at Lamar County does extremely well.

As the day faded and we were graced with a view of Philly in the distance from the bucket of the ladder truck, we all felt like we had made a real and lasting change for the better, and it was the discipline of the firemen standing on the lawn 50 feet below we had to thank for it.
planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/wasted.

as long as we are taxed we will fuss and argue about it... when a small company can't suffice through hard times they down size and make people do twice the work load for the same amount of pay... maybe the county needs to look into something like that... why do we have a city manager when we have a mayor and apparently the city manager makes way more money than our current mayor? why does the young girl in the recreation department make $40,000 a year and for what? why does the county do the things they do? they really need to take a step back and realize what exactly they are doing to the community... they are only breaking us more and more...

What does "going green" have to do with my taxes? Your an idiot! No paper towels, but now they use more electricity due to the xcelerator dryer. lol Same carbon footprint! Here's a tiny piece of information you and all the "green" idiots have overlooked. The whole universe is made of carbon. AND The ocean is the worlds largest producer of CO2. So please remove your head out of Al Gores anus.

I do not work for the county, but 10 percent pay cuts seem a bit drastic to me. Our friends who serve us have families to support, and messing with someone's pay sends the wrong message. Surely there is some way to avoid going down this road.

I am sure we could find a fire chief, for example, who would take the position for $20,000 per year, but what kind of person would we get? You all seem to be capitalists, so surely you realize that if you want the best you have to pay for it.

I sure don't know any overpaid county workers, and surely don't want the county offices staffed by people who are not professional and dedicated.

The only fair tax is a sales tax! That way ALL pay and the burden is not on a few( property owners)
If you are representing the citizens of Lamar Co.,as you should be,poll them to see if they would support a higher sales tax!!!

The problem with this is a majority of the citizens will be dumb enough to think they won.

Now they will have a yearly fee and will be able to increase the millage next year when no one remembers.

How about limiting the scum suckers who don't have insurance or a car to how many times they can call an ambulance, and deny their trip to the ER so they don't get free care.

Government is nothing more than a business. The difference is the government can lock up or fine their customers when they don't pay. Somewhere along the way we decided that not everyone should have to carry their weight and we would still provide services for free. Hell we'll just feel sorry for the lazy and pay their way to have more. Oh yeah, we'll punish the people who contribute by making them pay more for the people who don't. Sounds like a legitimate way to run things to me.

Every species in this world continues to maintain by natural selection except humans. We nurture the weak and ignorant so they can reproduce because it's fair. We condone their lazy and ignorant lifestyle by rewarding them with the same benefits as the rest. What we've ended up with is a growing ignorance that is allowed to vote.

So they cranked up a ladder bucket truck to lift you 50 feet into the air just so you could get a view of Philly in the distance?
Real smart. Real Green. What was the cabon foot print of that idiotic stunt?
Go pat yourselves on the back some more.

"There may not be a millage increase after all but there will be a fire and medical service fee added to every tax bill."

To the blind and stupid, this went right over their heads. Wake up. They are adding money to your bill but calling it something else now. WHAT A SHAM! It still amounts to an increase presented to you now based on lies and deceit.

I agree. A fair tax is the only 'fair' way to get more money into the county. That way drug dealers and people passing through contribute as well. I'd vote for that and give the commissioners a free piece of chicken. Everybody wins. Even the damn democrats.

10 percent is more than the employees have got with there last 6 cost of living raises!
and cut there medical benefits they will be working for less than min wage
BOC why punish employees for your unability to manage money this is not right

I empathize with the workers that have to take a 10% pay cut, but they will at least benefit from no property tax increase. They will probably fair better than property owners that have loss their job through no fault of their own(job elimination, etc.) or seniors on a fixed income, they cannot bear the LC budget for all Lamar county.

A 10% pay cut for all county employees is steep. Thats still cutting into peoples pocket that depend on their money to by food for their family and pay their bills as people are arguing. Why not decrees the percentage of pay cut and still raise the millage but just not as much. That way everyone is treated equal.

All county employees? Does this include the sheriff office. Thats a real bad idea. These people are underpaid as it is. There health Ins. is redicilous. I would much rather have the fire dept and ems cut. The SO is mor important to the community. I would hate to loose good people to other counties.

The first person to loose their job should be the idiot fireman that cant write a complete sentence. Take you green butt off somewhere and stop annoying people. You will never get that many fire fighters or fire stations...esp now.

To the deputies..if they cut your pay, stop writing tickets and anything else you do to bring in money!

Guess when they cut the pay of the county employees they can go out and get on welfare, apply for food stamps and medical assistance. Most county employees don't make that much money. Some will be barely making above minimum wage and hopefully will be eligible for some assistance. It is a shame to take away the money of the little people just to make up for the loss of money the county commissioners wasted on other things. Look at the Courthouse Annex, how much money was wasted on remodeling the Martin Building? If the county was in such bad shape, why spend all that money on another building? A 10% cut in county employee salaries will be another bad choice the commissioners are making.

"There may not be a millage increase after all but there will be a fire and medical service fee added to every tax bill."

WOW - a tax of a different color. People have beed hoaxed and don't even realize it.

People - this is still nothing more than a tax except they are calling it a fire and medical service fee.

Jay; just who do you think you're fooling? It all amounts to more money forced on the tax paying citizen. Why don't you do us all a favor and resign? I'd rather you call it by what it is rather than try and deceive the people. And the really bad thing is that 4 other commissioners are letting you get away with it. This is the reason we need a "None of the Above" on the voting ballot. So that we aren't forced to elect incompetence.

You have a democratic president now and things are going to hell....you will definitely never have any money now. what you do make its going to be taxed to hell and back to pay for obama care, financial reform and govt bail outs. Oh, and the national debt. We are about to bail out fannie and freddie again so thats more tacked on to the debt. Why they werent part of financial reform, i'll never understand. Unions just forced billions more to be handed out to save teacher and fire fighter jobs. Which by the way was just playing kissy poo with the unions so that they would donate money to the democratic party. Its not going to help anyone. Obama is lying about the economy. 500,000 just applied for unemployment. Doesnt sound like its improving to me.

Anyway, if the federal govt is such a cluster f***, why do you expect local govt to be any better.

An ambulance fee???? Have you lost your minds? do you know how many free loaders use an ambulance on a frequent basis...just for a freaking head ache or chest cold....why because they dont have to pay. They dont have to pay when they go to the ER verses going to see a regular doc. This is not fair to anyone. The people who abuse the system will not get taxed.

There are so many top paid employees that are rubbing the right elbows and are keeping a cushy job and not earning it. But, as government always does, they target the little people.

10% across the board doesn't really mean 10% across the board. Theres a big difference in 10% when you take it from a Sheriff's Deputy that makes $28,000 and your Commissioners that makes well, well over that.

On top of the 10% cuts, they are STILL going to add a tax! Do they really think that the public is that dumb? Ok so you're not calling it a milliage anymore, great. Now you can take what you want and call it a EMS fee. Really?!

So basically lets sum up whats happening. The public woke up, and expressed their disapproval for the way the county is being ran. The country tried to increase the millage, but were met with picketers and rage from pissed of property owners saying cut services and don't increase taxes. So, the commissioners in all of it's brightness said "Hey **** em, lets do both." They cut employee salaries --- wait. Cutting services does not mean cut employee salaries. That means cut the freaking stupid services that the county shovels ton of money to that isn't needed.

...oh and they still raise taxes. Great job commissioners. A 10% cut is a bad decision, simple as that. Across the board means you're taking it from the public service....the very thing that tax payers pay to have. Stop wasteful spending. I can't believe it has gotten this bad. I really think the Commissioners think LC residents are stupid.

Get a report from EMS on all of the bogus calls. Find out how much money was wasted by the society leeches. How many people were transferred to the hosp for non emergencies? There in no way these people can be taxed. Unless you put a heavy tax on thier 40 ozs they start drinking before 8 am. How will section 8 and govt housing be taxed? How little will their share be compaired to a home owner?

just remember Constitutional and Elected Officials Salaries are set by the State nd they won't take a 10% pay cut only the employees. To me that is wrong to take there problems out on them and they still receive full pay compared to the rest. I hope the Sheriff, Probate Judge, Tax Commissioner, Magistrate Judge, Clerk of Superior Court, Coronor all stand up for there employees and not let that happen.

O.K. property owners.. do you understand this fire tax? I do not totally.. but believe that for some of us.. like the one's that actually pay Fed Taxes.. this is a back door attack for us! So maybe with this "Fire Tax".. instead of maybe $80 pre thousand it will ONLY be $50 per thousand.. then guess Gordon picks up the rest.. right!! Well where do you think Gordon get's their $?? From us of course, at least the ones that still do pay Fed Taxes!! ALERT!!
Also warning!! The taxes should be on all people that have access to all the services.. not just property owners and the ones that still pay Fed. Taxes!! So much for the win!!!

i don/t think cutting the deputies or firefighters is the answer but.i think they should look at where the bleeding is
recreation dept pays scorekeeper refrees etc
i know that for a fact caretaker was a scorekeeper and rec dept was paying really good money.i still think the sherrif dept could cut inmates way back thats a not a motel
kick them outside in a tent. i don/t for sure
but a commisioner told me 4.90 a day for meals
oatmeal and peanutbutter sanswiches are a lot cheaper. give them local tv cut the cable
turn the air off outside they.
not the office personel though. jail is a punishment.
senior and civic center operate in the black
mainly lamar county in not get enough revenues
thru sales tax
i agree why did the martin building go over budget 60% ?
i like the idea of renters and gordon college
paying more.i hear from several people and i am appalled at the fact the will call an ambulance for blood pressure yes the lady told me she did and then went upson co they check bp
fine sent her shees. but she has no money to pay to go to dr.
there is another meeting workshop at courthouse
monday 10 am i will be there.
now is the time

YOU CAN'T FIGHT. No fire fee. No fire tax. No millage increase. Not higher. Kill the bill. No cuts in service or employment. We need a full time paid firefighters with the firehouse 24 hours a days and 7 days a weeks. What about Britton Cauthen? Protect you!

Soooo...they take $250,000 or something like that from ther sheriff's budget, now they are going to take 10% from the deputies? Do the commissioners just not care about public safety? You know I really don't care about the whole Waller/Buice ordeal but this will surely show if Waller will be there for his depuites. I can't believe he allowed that much to be taken without a fight to begin with. If Walled stands up for his deputies that will show the commissioners that they can't just do whatever that want when they want. And its not just the Sheriff's office. Chief Andrews needs to stand up too. The public service guys....the ones that we actually need our tax payers paying for are getting raped by these commissioners and the leaders of these departments are doing nothing to stop them. Until these people stand up and say NO commissioners can just keep doing what they want. Once these leaders take a stand their employees can stand up. Once they stand the families can stand. See its a snowball effect. Everyone says cut from the top, I say THE TOP NEEDS TO STAND UP. Stop letting these sorry commissioners punish you because of their stupid mistakes. NO 10% CUT. NO NEW TAXES. NO MILLAGE.

does the law say what they have to make or does it set the maximum pay?do the constitutional officers have to cut thier peoples salary or do they have final say in how thier money is spent?how much money does the solid waste auth have in surplus?how will we support the fire dept and water authority with a fire fee?any authority that has money in surplus should have to kick some back to the general fund.it's our money!if the water authority or solid waste authority goes bust we have to pick it up.also, why is the fire dept/ems always the first thing out of peoples mouth when talking about cuts?what about the probate court or clerks office or tax assessors office?can anyone help with these questions?please be specific

Regardless of your political bent, I encourage everyone who visits this site to visit The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute website http://www.gbpi.org/. The articles are thoughtfully written and generally include facts tabulated in a manner readily assessable to all.

We cannot address local budget shortfalls without an understanding of state budget shortages and the revenue schemes used to mitigate shortages (not meant in a derogative sense) including the diversion of federal funds used to shore up state and local governments. Fiscal year 2011 is already underway. Fiscal year 2012 will make everyone yearn for the bad old days of 2010-2011.

Enjoy such topics as:
Georgia Once Again Faces Budget Shortfall: Gov Orders Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in More Cuts Posted: 7/27/2010

Adding Up the Fiscal Notes 2010: Gov Vetoes Revenue Drains, but Signs Law to Raise Taxes on Poor Posted: 7/26/2010

people in lamar co. talk like they dont want obamacare because it means that some people are paying for other people to get medical care....but now it is ok for someone in atlanta that has property in lamar co to pay a fee that helps take lamar co people to hospital....and that fee may not be tax deductable

Hello--just be glad you have a job bub.
I was cut 10% in Jan. 2009, double the cost
of my insurance, lost a week vacation, and
half of my 401k reinbursment.
At least my company is getting back on it
feet and maybe this Christmas we can get
out 10% back. (If we can get rid of all of
the democrats this November)

Jay has never had a clear thought on his own in his life. Thanks to his Dad!
Interesting article in B'ville Dispatch about Conservation Use Valuation Exemption of which nearly 1/2 of Lamar Co is enrolled in the program including 4 of 5 LAMAR COMMISSIONERS.

Are we seriously thinking about cutting employees 10%?? Teachers can't pay their bills as it is and now we want to take what we have went to school for years to earn? We already work for free! Coming early, staying late, clothing kids, giving time, money, and efforts to all of students and families. We are bombarded with paperwork, children with no discipline, ungrateful parents, and now they are looking to take 10% of what we bend over backwards to earn..Good for those in office! Perhaps the people running this county need to take a pay cut. From what I understand there are SEVERAL employees making HUGE bucks. Let them take a paycut instead of all of us that come to work and don't have time to spend with our families because we are working OVERTIME to make a difference in the lives of children. You ought to be ASHAMED!!!!

That seems to be a good idea that any department with a surplus should use it. Hello! A rainy day has arrived. And the commissioners should lead by example and be the first to accept a decrease in pay. I have always wondered my a person would spend a ton of money to get elected to a job that only pays a small percentage of what they spent to get elected. Ego? I would be in favor of a sales tax increase so that everybody pays, not just property owners. While teachers have an important job they still make way over the average salary in LC. Also check out the Pike County Journal. The article about who pays what in property tax. Very interesting. Happening here too.

You know, I would be the last person to offer up Spalding County as an example of how to do things, but I do like the fact that they use inmate labor for many of their outdoor public projects. Is there any way we could utilize inmate labor here?

Let's see how politically incorrect I can be....
I am tired of seeing Steve Andrews ride around all day in a county vehicle doing his business on county time. Why are there folks living in Chapple Mill fire dept, with the county paying the utilities? I had a 360$$$ EMC bill, maybe I can move in a location. When I have a fire hydrant in my area, with water then maybe I will see some validity in a fire tax..
In the meantime If you have a cell phone, cable TV, a car with fancy rims, some of those knock off Tommy with his own parking space low riders, hair that you paid good money for that looks like a rag mop and long fingernails, then you can pay your childs lunch fee, pay for groceries, pay for healthcare and your utilities..have I left anyone out? Ya'll have a good day ..

Cut the Industrial Development Authority, Solid Waste Authority, Water Authority, Emergency Management Agency ( it is different from the ambulance service, visit the county's website) Cut the senior buses, combine the Recreation and Senior Center Depts. Cut the extension office, health dept. and any funding to Defacs. And any other funding we send out. Before you cut salaries of employees. (No, Im not a Lamar Co. employee) Before the County asks the regular tax paying property owners for more money, they need to cut ALL the fat off the budget!!! There's plenty to be trimmed! Besides... I thought the County Manager was responsible for balancing the budget and the County Commission only approves it? Maybe we need a new County Manager, someone with some nuts to stand up to these bozos.

Tell me why, when I lived in Griffin, I paid $1275 a year for taxes on a 2800 sq/ft house built in 2003, then moved to Barnesville and bought a house that's 1300 sq/ft, built in 1998 and am paying $1250/yr. Why am I paying the same in taxes for half the house on the same amt. of land?

I really don't see what Barnesville/LC has to offer that's so much better than Griffin. The pool at the civic center is full of children from the projects with no parental supervision. The park is full of the same plus drug dealers. Apparently noise ordinances aren't enforced downtown.

Plus, the folks who own downtown Barnesville have apparently made a deal with the devil since they have kept Walmart out of Barnesville for years. I know Walmart is bad for small business, but how many jobs would it create here? Plus, not everyone can drive out of town. Poor 'Fair tax' mama and her 5 kids might be able to get a job and some shoes from Walmart. Not to mention the tax money we'd make from Walmart.

Just wondering about a few things here. I welcome your arguments on these subjects, LC. And whoever this person is who's been hired to bring industry to LC, please feel free to explain why you haven't been earning your paycheck.

I say the county go green by taxing the disposable diapers users by 10%. I say if I don't utilize a service why should I have to pay a fee on it? I say the people who own property who don't have children in school should not have to pay school tax. I say senior citizens should not have to pay for all of the illegitimate kids to go to school. Let the parents or parent who has a child in school or in diapers pay the extra tax. Fair Tax should be taxed on everyone not just the homeowners. I work every day to pay for my property and the luxuries I have. Don't cry about minimum wage jobs just consider yourselves lucky you have a job.